Step VIII Of My Spiritual Journey: In Which I Take On Scientology
In this week of My Spiritual Journey, I didn't really go anywhere. (Well, except for Florida. I went on vacation. And as far as I'm concerned, falling asleep on a roasty-toasty beach, yes, slathered in sunscreen, is spiritual enough for me.)
But, don't think I have anything to write about. Because I do!
I've got some things to say about Scientology. And it's a pretty hot topic right now, what with that video of Tom "Crazy-Face" Cruise, and all. So, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I think Scientology is weird.
Though it clearly fits the definition of religion, (a pretty loose definition, if you ask me), Scientology always feels like it requires just that much more suspension of disbelief. And I get it - all religions are a little wacked out. Christianity has it's rising from the dead and it's transmutations, Hinduism's got more gods than you can count and some of them are elephants, and Islam's got 72 virgins waiting for you in heaven. And I'm not trying to belittle any of these religions; I'm just trying to highlight some of the more, well, hard to swallow portions, particularly for someone like me. Because that's where my problem with Scientology comes in.
Firstly, religions like Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam have some history behind them: combined they've got more than 10,000 years worth! And if that doesn't lend an instant dose of gravitas, then I don't know what does. There's something to be said for standing the test of time and clearly these religions, with Islam as their youngest, have done so.
Secondly, it's a little easier to believe in saintly relics and water-into-wine if you've got no idea how babies are made. I think it's fair to say (considering that most historians have said it) that religions gained footing as a way to explain the unexplained, and, well, clearly there was a lot more to explain back in 600 B.C.
Fast-forward to 2008, and L. Ron Hubbard's path to enlightenment and the supernatural abilities of an Operating Thetan are less than 50 years old. We've landed on the moon, invented new and intelligent forms of transportation, and use this new-fangled contraption known as The Internet. So please forgive me if I'm a little skeptical of the Thetan in me.
But, that said, I have to admit that I had higher hopes for the weird stuff I'd be dragging up on Scientology. I found plenty on Xenu alright, but strangely enough, I didn't feel comfortable posting it as an official tenet and/or doctrine of Scientology. Because, really, I have no idea what I'm talking about. And I guess that's another problem. What exactly is Scientology? What do they believe? Why are they so secretive? And why is Tom Cruise so darn creepy?
A part of me wants to believe that Scientology is a more or less innocent set of beliefs, and sometimes it sounds like that - they believe that god is a supremely personal conviction, and I don't think you can argue the existence of their social betterment programs (but have at their methods!). And a part of me wants to think that maybe it's not so crazy for people to believe, and that even though we've figured out the science of a smile, maybe we're living in a world where hope is all we've got, and far be it from me to mock those who will cling to whatever semblance of that Scientology brings.
But then I realize that they possibly believe in an alien leader named Xenu, they've kidnapped Katie Holmes, and they've started handing out something called the Freedom Medal of Valor, so I can't help but wonder - what says more about the state of the world, and our spirituality: The fact that Scientology exists? Or the fact that people believe in it?
And on that note, as a safety precaution: All Hail Xenu! And if you never hear from me again, please make sure my dog gets fed. He likes Natural Balance Duck & Potato Kibble, and socks.
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There is no doubt that according to the law in the USA Scientology is a religion.
That it is a religion that behaves not, like other religions in the US (pls correct me if you know other examples of the same done by other religions in the US).
For example Scientology members deliberately infiltrate into government agencies as well as newspapers, anticult groups, psychiatric and medical associations, and other organizations deemed antithetical to Scientology.
For example, one such (they are planned) operation became public was Code-named "Operation Snow White," and involved the systematic wiretapping, theft, and burglary of eleven government and nongovernment buildings, including the IRS and the Office of the Deputy Attorney General of the United States. Scientology spies had even amassed a dossier on then President Nixon.
What the spy (national policing-) arm of Scientolgy today is up to would be interresting if anybody here could tell us.
well, you certainly can't deny they've got the best Baby Baster in town
All religons, including Scientology, are made of whole cloth by human beings and false.
"Firstly, religions like Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam have some history behind them: combined they've got more than 10,000 years worth! And if that doesn't lend an instant dose of gravitas, then I don't know what does."
Verna,
Scientology seems to generate a lot of comments, but I think you might be on to something with that 10,000 years observation. Multiply that by the millions of believers, and you have tens of BILLIONS of believeryears tied up in the faiths. What has been accomplished with this effort? Have people learned things about God or grown closer to him? Or can the experience be summed up as a long running experiment in groupthink? From an historical perspective does blasphemy always trump fundamentalism in the end?
What I have learned is if something is true, then people will believe it because it is true. If it is not true, then they will only believe it if it is religious. I think Scientology is fast-tracking fundamentalism. That might eventually qualify it as one of the greatest religions of all time.
Scientology probably is an American religion. It combines ridiculous claims about "beings" from other places that talk to only white men who are therefore the leaders of everything and control all the money and dictate the dogma and stand up on stages and platforms and now in front of cameras and say stupid things while their fellow-believers worship them. Yes, in that way it sounds like most religions.
But it's also got that pyramid scam con aspect to it, which I consider a uniquely American form of theft and fraud. Come to the service and learn the secret to everlasting success in every single thing in life. The five first minutes are free. After that, it'll cost you.
It's like on the Biggest Loser when someone unpopular gets up on the scale, and that ticking sound stops meaning the weight loss has been displayed, then the camera sweeps to the faces of the other competitors who look shocked and surprised, then cut to the commercial. You've got to stay on that channel to see what the deal is. Same with Scientology: go to the "service" to heal your soul, but don't forget your checkbook and credit card.
And finally, it's a cult. They take control of weak people, convince them to give all their money, donate their time to advance the cult, give up their lives, isolate them from people who might say "WTF is wrong with you hanging with all those loonies?"
And they sue everyone. And maybe worse. Remember Synanon, a drug-rehab type place from a long time ago, and they ended up sueing everyone. And putting rattlesnakes into their critics' mailboxes. Surprise. (Or so it was reported).
If people have some desperate need to belong, pick a baseball team, buy the hat, watch the games. It's more fun and less weird.
One note on Verena's "gravitas" comment. Don't forget that Judaism, Islam and Christianity were also once new religions. In the case of Chrisitianity, it had converts questioning allegiance to the "divine" Roman empire--a seditious act, in the eyes of the Romans at least. Resurrections, virgin birth and turning water into wine? Why, that's ridiculous! And yet, Christianity kept growing.
I'm not a Scientologist but I think we need to have perspective. I'm sure if you asked any 1st century resident of Palestine or a Roman citizen whether some underground "cult"--the same one whose adherents they fed to the lions--would, in only 300 years, rule the known world. Interesting. Isn't Germany now debating whether Scientology should be outlawed? Here we are debating its secrets, doctrines and followers. Yes, it may be a fad, but don't write it off just yet. Hey, look at the Mormons! Who would've thought back in the 19th century that we'd ever have a Mormon running for president! So, check back in 300 years....
Scientology is a belief system for people who have no education and no experience with belief systems. Without the ability to look to art or philosophy to help them understand the world, they find simplistic answers in a series of ridiculous treatises and absurd practices.
Having said this, however, I am aware of the fact there are people (like Cruise and Travolta) who claim that it has brought them success and happiness in life. While they may appear both freakish and unsophisticated, it is really not my place to argue with them about their experience of Scientology.
scientology is hard to "probe" but i have met about a half dozen people who have been invited to some dinner, or drug rehab or some other scientology fiesta which made them think they were being brainwashed, or maybe even, held captive...in fact, i have never really had the opinion that scientologists have beliefs which are "freely held"-more like they were placed in an hypnotic trance and force-fed the thetan/xenu crap...and tommy cruise, unfortunately due to his mega-weird first wife mimi rogers who turned him on to the scientology mess, is no credible spokesperson for a damn thing...
Why are they so secretive, you ask?
Because they want you to pay up first.
How come Ton C looks to be 6'4" in the photo>
How many thetans is he standing on or is he on Xenu's shoulders
Oh, my God, not only do I hate Scientology, my dog likes Natural Balance Duck kibble too. I've found my spiritual advisor!
I lived in Hollywood not far from 2 of their big shrines and saw their legions walking from the giant dormitory to all their phoney tourist traps.
Even if Scientology had any credibility it looses it when you find that Hubbard boasted he would get rich starting a religion, then the teachings mirror a badly understood freshman psychology textbook so of course they will demonize REAL psychologists, and then they make such a god out of a person who literally failed at every opportunity ever handed him EXCEPT building a phoney religion.
Hubbard's religion was money. His successors also practice the cash religion. Lots of green from willing suckers who part with their hard-earned or easily inherited dough to find enlightenment - because they're too dumb or lazy to think for themselves.
If I had their kind of money, I'd waste less of it on making political statement movies, and spend more on the ACTUAL flying saucer.
We've all seen Star Trek, heard first Shatner, then others recite the now-famous intro:"Space, the final frontier...". And, probably hundreds of thousands of tons of celluloid have been printed making/remaking sci-fi movies, that's The Dream. Reality is 30% off at Wal-Mart, and another traffic jam thanks to high-minded social infill engineering. There are Now A Lot Of People On The Planet, in case anyone hadn't been paying attention to that. Oh, and we're choking to death on our own filth, well, make that China's choking to death on the byproducts of making the goods for the aforementioned Wal-Mart sale. Growthies, growthies(in your best pedantic condescending tone)...well, a tree grows up, a weed grows OUT. Then, some guy comes along with a weedeater. Bzzt. The problem with current growth vectors is that eventually, eventually, it'll be a problem that cures itself. The parable of the bunnies. One day, there's only a couple bunnies. Cuuuuute lil bunnies. Aww. Then there's 154 bunnies. Then, there's 24,318 bunnies. Then we're into 6 and 7 figures. Growthies, growthies. Then, one day, no more bunnies. No live ones, anyway. Hoppity, hoppity. This will likely be the century that Mexico goes to 1/2 billion, and the US to a full billion, and India to two billion, same for China. Cuuuute fluffy bunnies. Soylent green is people...put THAT in your movie script.
Beliefs are just conclusions you draw in order to feel like you know How Things Are, based upon things people tell you, important books you read, and, hopefully, your experience informs your beliefs so they are not rigid. We all have assumptions about reality that we don't question, the trouble is when those beliefs MUST be right no matter what the evidence. Too many religions want you to "just believe," knowing that not only do you form beliefs by drawing conclusions, but that you create your life in accordance with those beliefs, reinforcing them.
Belief is over. Awareness is the new religion.
Who's the little pipsqueak beside the Cruiser?
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